"Tennessee Williams, the College Years" is a limited collection of materials from the writer's time in the academy that serves as a companion to the Ransom Center's extensive exhibition on his broader life and career "Becoming Tennessee Williams," both of which are on display through July 31.

Williams attended three universities-the University of Missouri, Columbia (1929-1932), Washington University, St. Louis (1935-1937) and the University of Iowa (1937-1938)-over a 10-year period before completing his bachelor of arts degree. The exhibition draws connections between the common activities, struggles and emotions of a college student nearly 80 years ago and those of a 21st century university student.

"The College Years" was prepared by Allison Devereux, a 2010 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and former undergraduate intern at the Ransom Center, with assistance from the Ransom Center's Associate Director for Exhibitions Cathy Henderson.

The exhibition at the Fine Arts Library opens on April 1 in the Roberts Reading Room, where it can be viewed Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends from noon to 5 p.m.

Image: Playbill for The Garden Players production of "Cairo, Shanghai, Bombay" by Bernice Dorothy Shapiro and Tom Williams, July 12, 1935. Courtesy of the Harry Ransom Center.